New to live plants

[cahollar]

Received my live plants most of them potted. My question is when I take them out of the pots do I remove the material that they where planted in? Also can I divide my Java Fern its pretty big so was wondering if I could just cut it down the middle and make two?

[Ken Dyer]

You should be safe to remove the rock wool from the plant (that green stuff the plant is in inside the pot) I do for most of my plants unless using a Co-Op easy planter. And yes you can cut the rhizome (tuber) on a java fern to divide it. Just be careful to get a clean cut and not to mash the rhizome as I have had that set back a plant and lead to some rot.

Welcome to the wonderful world of live plants, they were a terrifying mystery for me at first and I still struggle with some plants in my water but overall once you find plants that like your water and style they are pretty easy and really do look amazing 🙂